How do you solve 3/4 = 3/8x - 3/2?

3 Answers
Jul 13, 2015

My first step would be to multiply everything on both sides by 8 to get rid of all the fractions.

Explanation:

->6=3x-12->18=3x->x=6

Jul 13, 2015

I found: x=6

Explanation:

I would take 8 as common denominator and write:
(color(red)(2)*3)/8=(3x)/8-(color(red)(4)*3)/8
where the red terms were introduced to adapt the numerators to the new denominator 8.
I can now get rid of the denominators and get:
(2*3)/cancel(8)=(3x)/cancel(8)-(4*3)/cancel(8)
6=3x-12
and:
3x=18
x=18/3=6

Jul 13, 2015

x=6

Explanation:

OK, we are given 3/4=3/8x-3/2

First, let's add 3/2 to both sides:

3/4=3/8x-3/2

3/4+3/2=3/8x

We need a common denominator for both 3/4 and 3/2, so we'll go with the common denominator of 4, since both 2 and 4 go into 4:

3/4+3/2=3/8x

3/4+(2*3)/(2*2)=3/8x

3/4+6/4=3/8x

Now, add 3/4+6/4 to get 9/4

3/4+6/4=3/8x

9/4=3/8x

Now, multiply both sides by the reciprocal of 3/8 which is 8/3

9/4=3/8x

8/3*9/4=8/3*3/8x

2/1*3/1=1*x

2*3=x

6=x